Cervantes initiative to waive traffic fees for low income Chicagoans
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Cervantes’ new initiative could help get lower income Chicago residents back on their feet in a small way—by creating a permanent program to waive the fines or fees from traffic violations they may have.
“People already struggling to make ends meet may be one small setback from losing everything,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This initiative will extend grace to Chicagoans with lower incomes, and ensure that one small mistake does not irrevocably change their livelihood.”
The Cook County traffic fee waiver program was established in 2021 and made fees, fines and costs due to traffic violations eligible for a waiver in Cook County for people suffering financially. Thanks to this program, judges in Cook County have evaluated applications to grant fee waivers under the program over the last three years. However, the program had a sunset date for 2024, which was recently extended until 2025, but as it is currently written, would need to be renewed annually to still be operational.
Cervantes to serve as chair of Senate Criminal Law Committee
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SPRINGFIELD – With a new session of the Illinois General Assembly underway, State Senator Javier Cervantes was recently selected to serve as the chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee for the 104th General Assembly.
“It is an honor to be selected as the chair of any committee, but I take special pride to serve as your chair of the Criminal Law Committee,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “In this role, I will be able to build on my previous legislative efforts and lead the committee in challenging outdated, unjust practices to create a better, nonviolent future.”
As chair, Cervantes will help prioritize and guide discussions on legislative initiatives, oversee informational hearings on issues related to criminal law, and more. Cervantes hopes to support initiatives aiming to address the root causes of violence and further rehabilitation efforts. He also plans to highlight legislation that clarifies existing measures to prevent harmful misinterpretations that have historically led to people of color facing higher sentences than their action justifies.
Cervantes bill aims to improve health care access in Illinois
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SPRINGFIELD – To ensure more skilled health care professionals can practice in Illinois, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes introduced legislation to better support the state’s physician assistant workforce and improve access to care.
“Before my work in the General Assembly, I worked with health care providers to resolve issues of inaccessibility, and I saw firsthand how it can take weeks or months to see doctors and other health care providers, leading to worse health outcomes for the patient seeking treatment,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “By streamlining the process of becoming a licensed physician assistant, patients will be able to receive medical help sooner.”
According to a 2020 workforce report prepared by the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center, Illinois currently has a shortage of more than 15,000 nurses. With projections of a shortage of more than 6,000 doctors by 2030, patients could face significant delays in seeing a provider, which can negatively impact their health.
Cervantes inaugurated to the 104th General Assembly
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes was sworn in for his second term as state senator for the 1st District as the 104th General Assembly began Wednesday.
“It continues to be a great honor to serve the people of the 1st District. This role has given me the opportunity to facilitate the voices of our community to be heard in Springfield,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “We have gone through so much together in the past few years, and as I look back, I remember who inspires me throughout the 1st District and about the work and progress we have made. Legislative change powers my devotion to Illinois and the residents of my district as we tackle future challenges and endeavors.”
Cervantes spent his first term uplifting voices of his constituents and pushing a legislative agenda that focuses on creating more community resources, increasing professional development, protecting workers from marginalization and increasing protections for immigrant Illinoisans. With the start of his second full term, Cervantes will continue to prioritize the working-class people that make up the 1st District and stand beside the voices of the community to create a positive impact on the residents of Illinois.
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Thank you for visiting my legislative website. It is my privilege to serve the citizens of the 1st Senate District in the Illinois General Assembly. On this website, I will provide information about myself, my legislation and the services I can assist you with.
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Springfield Office:
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Springfield, IL 62706
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